Urban Soldier Young Master

Chapter 977 - 976: Not a Joke

"Chu Ge means... is... is just joking, hehe... what he's trying to say is..."In the slightly tense atmosphere, Qin Ruojing wanted to help Chu Ge smooth things over. Unfortunately, in her panic, she couldn't think of anything appropriate to say and could only force a smile and squeeze out this sentence, leaving the task of smoothing things over to Chu Ge.

This guy always had a quick wit. No matter how tense or awkward the moment, he could easily defuse it. Even though Chu Ge had just said something so inappropriate, Qin Ruojing still didn't quite believe that it was Chu Ge's true intention.

After all, no matter how much Chu Ge liked to be an atmosphere killer, there was no reason for him to provoke his father-in-law in this situation, right? How absent-minded would one have to be to do something so foolish?

Is Chu Ge that kind of absent-minded person?

In Qin Ruojing's view, the answer was definitely no; this guy was smart.

Having said that, Qin Ruojing hurriedly gave Chu Ge a glance and smiled, "Chu Ge, quickly explain, what exactly does your joke mean?"

Meeting Qin Ruojing's gaze, Chu Ge shook his head seriously.

"I'm definitely not joking. Every word I said is the truth from my heart. Your father is indeed not a good father, not a good husband, not a good man in terms of family."

If the atmosphere at the dinner table was only a bit heavy earlier, when Chu Ge said these words with an extremely serious expression, the atmosphere instantly plunged to freezing point.

Qin Ruojing was filled with rage; she thought Chu Ge's head must have been kicked by a donkey or had water seep into it, or got caught in a door. Otherwise, she really couldn't find a reason for Chu Ge to speak like that.

This... really gives no face to his father-in-law, does it?

But even so, Qin Ruojing could only force a more strained smile and say to Chu Ge, "Chu Ge, even with jokes, you should know when to stop, and your joke really isn't that funny."

As she spoke, Qin Ruojing also kicked Chu Ge under the table. Even though the movement wasn't big, it carried some force.

Not to mention Qin Ruojing was angry, even Qin Ruoying couldn't stand it anymore. She couldn't help but kick Chu Ge under the table too and then laughed awkwardly, "Dad, Mom, let's eat, or the food will get cold, hehe... it's been so long since I had my Mom's cooking, I..."

Before Qin Ruoying finished speaking, Chu Ge puzzledly looked at the sisters, "Why are you kicking me?"

Qin Ruoying's voice abruptly stopped, and Qin Ruojing's eyelids twitched violently.

Undoubtedly, Chu Ge's words perfectly exemplified emotional unintelligence, the top of the most exasperating comments, and Qin Ruojing and Qin Ruoying simply couldn't believe these words actually came out of Chu Ge's mouth.

Within just a few words, Qin Yan's expression had already darkened completely. He never imagined that the son-in-law he always thought highly of would speak like this repeatedly. Even being spoiled doesn't cover this, right?

It's simply too much!

"Let's eat." Qin Yan picked up his chopsticks and suppressed his anger as he spoke only three words.

Even though Qin Ruojing and Qin Ruoying were still anxious, they finally breathed a slight sigh of relief. Their father didn't explode on the spot, which was already quite rare. Just a second ago, they were worried if their father might suddenly bang the table.

"Uncle, why do I feel like you're not in a very good mood?"

Qin Yan picked up his chopsticks and was just about to get some food when Chu Ge's voice came over again before the chopsticks were fully raised. Qin Yan paused slightly, and the breath of the three women at the table also hitched, feeling like the calm before a storm.

Fortunately, Qin Yan's chopsticks only paused for two seconds before they continued to reach for a dish.

"Uncle, do you think anything I said is wrong? Do you really not feel like you're not a good husband and not a good father?"

"Bang"

Despite Qin Ruojing and Qin Ruoying fiercely stomping on Chu Ge under the table again, what they feared still happened. Qin Yan pressed the chopsticks he was about to use to pick up food down on the table.

Even though the sound wasn't very loud, that short and dull thud made both of their hearts skip a beat, their bodies trembling slightly in response.

Putting down his chopsticks, Qin Yan stood up from the table, clearly no longer in the mood to eat this meal.

"Chu Ge, what's wrong with you? Is your brain also injured?" Qin Ruojing fired back, glaring at Chu Ge with confusion and irritation after her father slammed his hand on the table. "What nonsense are you spouting? Why aren't you apologizing to my dad?"

First, the father got angry, then the sister, and even though Qin Ruoying was usually mischievous, she was at a loss for words now.

Qin's mother tugged at Qin Yan's arm, "Old Qin, the kid doesn't know any better, don't argue with the kid, calm down, sit back and eat, it's hard for the two girls to come home, let's enjoy a family meal together, what's the fuss about?"

As she spoke to Qin Yan, Qin's mother gave a disapproving look to Chu Ge, indicating, like Qin Ruojing, that Chu Ge should quickly say something nice to salvage the situation.

Even if not for Chu Ge, at least Qin's mother hoped their family dinner could be a bit more peaceful.

"Apologize? I didn't say anything wrong, why should I apologize?"

Chu Ge looked at Qin Ruojing with amusement, then turned his gaze to Qin's mother, disregarding her reproachful look, and said frankly, "Auntie, I really don't understand how I'm being unreasonable, every word I said was from my heart, and it's an undeniable fact."

Qin's mother, too, was infuriated, her eyes widening, "Chu Ge, you're crossing the line, even if Old Qin isn't perfect, it's not your place to say these things."

Chu Ge shrugged, smiling at Qin Yan, "Uncle, you see, it's not just me, now Auntie is speaking truthfully too, she also thinks you're not good enough, and the way she's thinking is probably similar to mine, which is that as a husband and father, you truly have let this family down."

Qin Yan frowned tightly, looking at Chu Ge, then turned his gaze to Qin's mother's face.

Being looked at by her husband like that, Qin's mother felt terribly awkward. She had just said it without thinking, but now Chu Ge was using it to make a point.

Besides the awkwardness, Qin's mother was even more frustrated with Chu Ge, and more puzzled.

What exactly was this kid up to? Does he not want to have this wedding too, and that's why he's causing trouble on purpose?

"Uncle, I truly have no intention of offending you, nor do I want to ruin the atmosphere at the table, but please ask yourself honestly, have you really given enough to this family?"

Under the watch of several emotionally charged eyes at the table, Chu Ge smiled slightly, elbows resting on the table, leaning forward slightly, looking frankly at Qin Yan, posing yet another question.

Although Qin Yan was standing and Chu Ge was sitting, theoretically making Qin Yan look down at Chu Ge, Qin Yan was his elder, but when the two men locked eyes, he felt as if he was being examined by Chu Ge.

"Uncle, I have no doubt that you wholeheartedly want what's best for this family, and you're working hard outside for them. Every brick and tile here, every table and chair, every plate and bowl is connected to your effort, but, may I ask if you remember when your daughters first called you 'dad'?"

Qin Yan opened his mouth, but said nothing; he didn't remember, had no impression whatsoever.

"How many years has it been since you and Auntie celebrated a wedding anniversary? How many parent-teacher conferences have you attended for Qin Ruojing and Qin Ruoying? Do you know where your seasonal clothes are stored? How many times do you enter the kitchen in a year?"

Qin Yan couldn't answer a single question.

"Uncle, did you know that Xiaojing once told me that as a child, she really wanted to go to an amusement park with the whole family, for you to buy her ice cream, push her on a swing, but unfortunately, such a simple wish never came true for her."

"Uncle, we've talked before, I know you're genuinely busy, and it's all important work, as a criminal police officer, you've been on the front line battling criminals, solving many major cases over the years, catching dangerous criminals, and you're well-known in the police community, but when you come home, what have you done then?"

Chu Ge paused for a few seconds, seeing that Qin Yan remained silent, he smiled lightly and said, "Uncle, since you're not speaking, I suppose you already have an answer that slightly agrees with my previous views."

Qin Yan slowly sat back down at the table, his gaze sweeping over the faces of his wife and two daughters.

"Perhaps in your heart, nothing ever seemed wrong with this, Auntie supports you, Xiaojing and Xiaoying understand you, they know you're working hard outside, so they hardly ever complain to you, and you think this is only natural."

"If they say something even slightly, you might feel they're being unreasonable. As long as you put on a stern face and frown slightly, even if they're disappointed and aggrieved, they can only swallow their words, and over time, even they might think this is only natural."

"Uncle, honestly, before my injury, some of my thoughts were quite similar to yours, but I've done a lot of thinking these past days, and some things I took for granted now seem not so certain in hindsight."

"A man, no matter how busy outside, is there really no time to say a few kind words to his family or do a little housework? If that's the case, then what difference is there between a so-called home and a hotel?"